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Reconstruction of the Masterplan of Jinmingchi Garden Shevchenko

林苑) was hundreds of steps from the halls” dock where it floated the boat to the beams.
[6] . In addition, the book recorded that the The boat was then fixed with water drawn
troops of the Song dynasty performed marine from the dock, and the boat could be put up
training exercises and archery training on the aloft. After repair, water can be transferred
pond. again from the dock, and columns and beams
As the pond was not completely built, it can be removed. Besides, a structure will be
was simply named as “New Pond” (新池塘) built to shade the boat to avoid deterioration
[9]
in historical materials. It was not until the in outdoor space” . The design of the dock
project completion in 978 (the 3rd year of Da’ao was pioneering, providing a solution to
Taipingxingguo), Song Taizong named the under-water repair of boats, which could be
[10]
[7]
pond as Jinmingchi , indicating the pond one of the earliest docks around the world .
water was transferred from Jinshui River. At the same time, the imperial court
After excavation, it was found the perimeter made the decision to transfer the water of
of the pond was expanded for another 9 li (里). Bian River to the pond in the northwest
Five halls were built at the center of the pond direction, to eliminate the dangers of
for the emperor to watch marine training sediment accumulation. In 1079 (the 2nd year
exercises. Song Minqiu ( 宋 敏 求 )’s book, of Song Shenzong Yuanfeng, 宋神宗元丰二
[7]
Chunming Tuichao Lu ( 春 明 退 朝 录 ) 年), the project was completed . In the age
mentions that “Song Taizong enlarged the of Emperor Song Huizong (宋徽宗, 1111‒
pond size with excavation, built halls in the 1118), structures were built around the pond,
[2]
pond center to watch marine trainings” [8] . and green space increased . By continuous
Due to political stability, the demands of renovation, Jinmingchi was in prosperity in
military training decreased, and eventually late Northern Song dynasty, and became a
replaced by the dragon-boat racing festival well-known spot in the capital city. As an
held by the emperor. Dragon-boat was the imperial garden, Jinmingchi was strictly
most important boat in the racing. The first preserved. Normally, without the imperial
dragon-boat appeared in the early days of the court’s permission, nobody could enter the
Song dynasty under the reign of the King Garden. However, the first day of the third
Qian Shu of Wu and Yue (吴越王钱俶). The lunar month was an exception for Jinmingchi
length of the dragon-boat was more than 20 to open to the public. Each resident of
zhang (丈) (more than 60 m) at the time, Bianjing city was permitted to enter the
Garden and participate in the celebration.
decorated with dragon head and dragon tail. Without doubt, the Garden was recognized by
“The upper floor of the dragon-boat was for the residents of the city. It was not until 1127
the emperor’s family, with couch for
[9]
relaxation” , therefore, the boat was also (2nd year of Song Qinzong Jingkang, 宋钦宗
referred to as Louchuan (楼船) (House Boat). 靖康二年), the Jin Army(金军) attacked and
In the age of Emperor Song Shenzong (宋神 occupied Bianjing city and destroyed
Jinmingchi and the buildings within it. Meng
宗), a dock named Da’ao (大澳) was built in Yuanlao ( 孟 元 老 ) (1090‒1150, to be
the north bank of Jinmingchi. Shen Kuo (沈 verified), a writer in the Song dynasty,
括 ), a scientist in Northern-Song era, escaped from Bianjing to Hangzhou (杭州),
described the dock in his book Mengxi Bitan and wrote a nostalgic book, Dongjing
(Brush Talks from Dream Brook, 梦溪笔谈) MengHuaLu (The Eastern Capital: A Dream
that, “a eunuch Huang Huaixin (黄怀信) of Splendor, 东京梦华录). The book narrated
recommended to build a dock in the north the stories of dragon-boat racing held in
band. When the dragon-boat was landed, Jinmingchi in detail, in memory of the
columns are put under the bottom of the boat. prosperous time of Bianjing city in the past.
With wooden structural beams positioned Jinmingchi and the several buildings
above the boat, water is transferred to the around the pond are described in Dongjing

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